This book is an autobiography written by Mr. Zhao Yuanren, a well-known linguist in my country, based on his life experiences in the first thirty years.
Regarding this experience that spanned his childhood and youth, Mr. Zhao did not express too many insights; he just recorded every detail of his life truthfully; his unpretentious vernacular was occasionally mixed with witticisms from that era, which made people smile while reading.
Mr. Zhao's curiosity about language, his interest in sounds, and his spirit of inquiry into music since he was a child all foreshadow the birth of a great scholar in the future. In addition, this book also reflects from the side some social conditions and customs in southern Hebei, Nanjing, Changzhou and other places during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.
Reader comments
The writing style of this book is unpretentious and the text is simple and easy to understand, as if the author is chatting with you. I especially like the details about his childhood and youth in the book, especially his exploration of language, sound and rhythm, which allowed me to see the growth trajectory of a future scholar. Moreover, the book also reflects the current social status and customs of the time, which gave me a deeper understanding of that era. All in all, this is an autobiography well worth reading!
The master's autobiography is certainly good to read.
When I first read it, it was a bit trivial, but I can also understand the living conditions of people at that time. Zhao Yuanren was actually a reliable descendant of Zhao Kuangyin, and he could be regarded as a descendant of the aristocracy!
The writing style of this book is unpretentious and the text is simple and easy to understand, as if the author is chatting with you. I especially like the details about his childhood and youth in the book, especially his exploration of language, sound and rhythm, which allowed me to see the growth trajectory of a future scholar. Moreover, the book also reflects the current social status and customs of the time, which gave me a deeper understanding of that era. All in all, this is an autobiography well worth reading!
The master's autobiography is certainly good to read.
When I first read it, it was a bit trivial, but I can also understand the living conditions of people at that time. Zhao Yuanren was actually a reliable descendant of Zhao Kuangyin, and he could be regarded as a descendant of the aristocracy!